3. KEY ELEMENTS of the COUNTERTERRORISM CHALLENGE Thomas M
3. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE COUNTERTERRORISM CHALLENGE Thomas M. Sanderson with Joshua Russakis and Michael Barber ountering terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa C(MENA) today is a complex endeavor. Heightened political turmoil combined with socioeconomic pressures creates condi- tions conducive to armed militant activity. Extremist groups are also taking advantage of a steady supply of weapons and foreign fighters, porous borders, social media tools, reliable revenue streams, and ungoverned space. More than a decade of counterterrorism and counterinsur- gency activity—both victories and losses—offers key lessons for the United States in today’s struggle.1 But violent extrem- ists have also learned many lessons after years of parrying with local and foreign forces.2 Today’s counterterrorism coalition must understand the value and limits of recent experience as its members craft approaches to an adaptive, highly motivated adversary. The MENA region offers several counterterrorism chal- lenges. Egypt’s Sinai, Libya, Yemen, and parts of Lebanon 1. Key lessons from over a decade of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency ac- tivity include among others, the importance of local partnerships, trusted security services (either local or international), human intelligence, counter messaging, economic development, and political inclusion. 2. These lessons include the importance of diversifying and localizing funding methods, of using social media, of exploiting corrupt government officials, and of carrying out effective governance in safe havens. 36 Religious Radicalism after the Arab Uprisings 37 are experiencing a range of violent extremist activity. But the Syria-Iraq theater, where Western countries and local partners have undertaken an offensive against the Islamic State, offers the most significant test for counterterrorism strategies as they confront broad safe havens, robust funding portfolios, and a steady supply of motivated foreign fighters.
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